Combined step and extension ladder.



E. N. BOTSPORD.

COMBINED STEP AND EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911. Patented May 14, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M N N N kymzzf/zwi Wit ess s Inventor by W Attorneys E. N. BOTSFORD.

COMBINED STEP AND EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE N. BOTSFORD, OF PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN.

COMBINED STEP AND EXTENSION LADDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE N. Bo'rsrom), a citizen of the United States, residing at Platteville, in the county of Grant and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Combined Step and Extension Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in what may be termed step-ladders.

The invention has for its object to provide for readily effecting the conversion of the ladder according to the purpose or utility for which it may be in demand.

A further object is to adapt the device to serve not only as a platform or support for a pail or receptacle, but also to provide for suitably bracing the members in effective or retaining position.

A still further object is to adapt the deyice to serve as a truss or stay in forming or improvising a scaffold especially for use in a stair-way hall.

A still further object is to effect the conversion of the device into an extension ladder.

A still further object is to carry out the aforesaid ends in a simple, effective and expeditious manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be .made as relates to the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention,--Figure 1 is an elevational view of the ladder. Fig. 2 is also an elevational View thereof with its members slightly modified in construction and disposed or adjusted as when used in improvising a scaffold in a stair-way hall. Fig. 3 is a broken perspective of the coupling member or platform between the ladder sections or members. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective of the pail or receptacle support or platform. Fig. 5 is an elevational view disclosing the device as adapted to form an extension-ladder. Fig. 6 is a View showing the ladder sections in folded position.

In the disclosure of my invent-ion, I employ suitably constructed ladder sections or members 1 and 2 of any suitable or desired Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 3, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 630,983.

length, the step members of which may be either of the ordinary rung or rectangular type, each form 3 and 4 being herein disclosed.

The ladder-section 1 has its side rails 5 provided at or in their upper ends with opposed upwardly opening vertical slots 6 which are utilized in connection with securing a suitable pail or receptacle supporting platform 7 upon said ladder-section. Said platform has secured to its underside, at one edge, an edgewise disposed member or bar 8, whose ends suitably project for their reception within the slots 6 of the ladder section for the suitable retention of said platform in horizontal position when in use, especially as disclosed by Fig. 1. To provide for such reception of the platform or support intermediate the lateral portions or members of the ladder-section, the edgewisearranged member or bar 8 is suitably extended or projected as at 9.

The ladder-section 2 has its side-rails 9 provided in their upper ends also with upwardly opening slots 10, the function of which will presently appear. To-the same ends of the side-rails of the ladder section are suitably applied or fixed metallic straps 11 forming loops 12. Said loops extend some distance parallel with the rear edges of the ladder-section side rails 9 and upwardly beyond the side-rail ends, whence said loops are extended still farther upwardly but considerably narrowed or constricted as at 13 just opposite, and slightly distant from the upwardly opening slots 10 in the ends of the ladder-section side rails, the purpose of which will also be presently apparent.

The ladder-section 1 has its top rung or foot-engaged member extended laterally to form projections or studs 14 which are received by or engage initially the loops 12, and subsequently the upper end narrowed portion 13 of said loop under different conditions and for different purposes. For instance, with the ladder-sections disposed or arranged in the ordinary step-ladder form, as disclosed by Fig. 1, the studs or projections 14 of the ladder-section 1 will be received by, or engage the contracted loop extensions 13 of the ladder-section 2 and, as arranged when not in use, or folded it will be noted that said studs or projections will move down into the loops 12, finally engaging the bottoms or lower ends thereof. Also tively securing saidladder-sections in alinement or extended position as indicated.

When the parts or sections are in the ordinary step-ladder form or when the same may be improvised for forming ascaifold, they are suitably coupled together and held in such position by means preferably of a member 15, which is or may be utilized as a standing platform, said member or platform having upon its underside hooked brackets or lugs 16 adapted for suitable engagement with, or to take under opposed contiguous rounds or rungs of the ladder-sections, as disclosed by Figs. 1 and 2.

As disclosed by Fig. 2, loop-forming straps, designated, in this instance, as 17 are devoid of the extensions forming the contracted loops 18 of the loop-forming straps 11 of Fig. 1. The upper end portion of each loop-forming strap or member 17 is spaced off or removed wholly from the corresponding end of each side rail of the lad de -section. This provides for the engagement of the studs 14 with the inner, upper corner edges of the strap-forming members 17 for the suitable retention of the laddersections in desired relative position and at the same time enables the upper ends of the loop-forming straps to suitably furnish or form supports for a member, as a plank, (not shown) as in improvising a scaifold, especially in a stair-way hall for a painters or paper-hangers use, as it is thought will be readily appreciated. In this connection it is further stated that the plank-member, for which the ladder-sections are adapted to provide, as indicated, for intermediately supporting said plank-member, has one end braced againsta step in the stair-way.

It is thought that it has been made clearly apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying illustration or drawing, that my invention while it is readily applied or adjusted for the various utilities and is inexpensive of manufacture.

What is claimed 1s 1. In a combined step and extension ladder, including ladder-sections, one ladder section having loop-forming straps at their upper ends certain of the loops being par allel with the longitudinal edges of the side rails of one ladder-section, said loops in continuation extending parallel with the upper ends of said side rails, and the other laddersection being provided with lateral studs adapted to be received by said loops in both their longitudinal and end portions.

2. In a combined step and extension ladder, including ladder-sections, one laddersection having loop-forming straps applied to the side rails thereof, the loops formed thereby in continuation ranging along the longitudinal edges and along the ends of said side-rails, said loop-forming straps having additional or supplemental loops in their upper forward end-portions, and the other laddersection having lateral studs adapted for engagement with said loops.

3. In a combined step and extension ladder, including ladder-sections, one ladder section having applied thereto loop-forming straps, the loops thereof ranging along the longitudinal and end portions of the siderails of said ladder-section, said straps hav- 1 ing supplemental loops in their upper forward ends, the side-rails of said ladder-section being provided in their upper ends with upwardly opening slots, and the other ladder-section having in the upper ends of their side-rails upwardly opening slots, said side rails having lateral studs engaging the firstreferred to slots, the latter-referred to slots receiving a rung of the opposite ladder-sec- EUGENE N. BOTSFORD.

Witnesses H. J. Lor'rseonnoN, MILO G. IIAGAN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

